Illuminated sign



March 15, 1932.

T. A. J. SWEEGERS ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed March 14, 1930 Patented Mar. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES THEODORUS ANTONIUS J'OANNES SWEEGERS, 0F EINDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS, AS-

SIGNOR TO N. V. -PHILIPS GLOEILAMPENFABRIEKEN,

LANDS or EINDHOVEN, NETHER- ILLUMINAEIJIEJJ SIGN Application flled March 14, 1930, Serial No. 435,879, and in the Netherlands April 18, 1929.

This invention has reference to a shield having secured to it a luminous discharge tube. Shields of the kind are frequently used in lighting installations used, for example,

broken, for example'during transit, in consequence of the said rigid attachment. In addition, it is often difficult to give the securing members, which mostly consist of straps that engage the discharge tubes, just such dimensions that after their attachment the tubes are entirely stationary. Mostly, the tubes can thus be slightly moved between the securing members so that they may rattle back and forth. It hasbeen found that the breakage which frequently occurs during transit and in the use of such shields is due for a good deal to the said causes. According to the invention the said difficulties are obviated b securing the tubes to the shields by means 0 one or more resilient members. The discharge tubes may be arranged in apertures recessed in the shields and in this case they may be retained in place by means of springs which at least partly engage the tube and may be secured to humps of the shield.

The inventionwill be more clearly understood by reference to the accompanylng drawings in which one embodiment of the invention is illustrated. In the said drawin s:

%igure 1 is a front elevation of a shield embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a back view of the said shield, and

Figure 3 shows a partial section taken in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the discharge tube.

Referring to the various figures, 1 designates a rectangular shield which advantageously may be of metal, for example sheet iron, and which has recessed in it an aperture 2 in the form of the letter A. This aperture filling which consists, for example, of a rare gas but which may have added to it metal vapours, say mercury vapour. The nature of the gaseous filling determines the colour of the light emitted by the discharge tube. If the -=filling consists, for example, of neon, the said colour will be reddish, whereas the tube may radiate blue light when it contains mercury vapour.

The shield has secured to its front side various semi-circular straps 7 which engage the discharge tube. The ends of these straps extend through the shield 1 forming extensions 9. The luminous tube is forced against the said straps by various springs 8 which, as seen best in Figure 2, are constituted by a helically wound metal wire, for example of copper, which is closed in itself.

The springs thus formed engage the ex tensions 9 formed by the ends of the straps 7. It is however quite easy to form these extensions of members which are not integral with these straps. As the discharge tube is forced by the springs 8 against the straps 7, it cannot rattle between the securing members, although it can still move slightly if some pres sure is exercised against the front side of the discharge tube, which is quiteliable to occur, for example, during the conveyance of the shield. By reason of this resilient arrangement there will consequently be less risk of the discharge tube becomin broken than in. the case of its being secure to the shield by means of rigid members.

A further advantage of the shield described consists in that the discharge tube can be removed from the shield very easily, if it is necessary to replace it with another tube.

At the top and at the bottom the shield 1 is provided with flanges perpendicular to the plane of the shield. These flanges are adapted to engage two rails and to be clamped by means of screws 10 which through tapped apertures can be screwed in the upper flange and which are adapted to hear at their ends on one of the rails to which the shield is secured. By tightening the screws 10 the 1 5 shield will be rigidly clamped against the two rails. r

What I claim is: 1. Illuminated sign comprising a luminous discharge tube and a carrier for said tube, said carrier having an aperture in which said luminous tube is arranged, straps secured to said carrier, and spanning said aperture and bearing against said luminous tube, the ends of said straps extending through said carrier, and springs secured to said extending ends, the said springs bearing against said luminous tube at the side opposite to that against which the straps bear.

2. Illuminated sign comprising a lumi-- nous discharge tube and a carrier for said tube, said carrier having an aperture in which said luminous tube is disposed, straps secured to said carrier on one side thereof, spanning said aperture and bearing against said luminous tube, and extending members on the opposite side of said carrier and springs secured to said extending members and bearing against said luminous tube, to press said tube against said straps. In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

THEODORUS ANTONIUS JOANNES SWEEGERS. 

